Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-02-17
EASTERN.
The Texas Seed Bill
Vetoed.
FEMALE SUFFRAGE IN KANSAS.
List of Pacific Coast Appropriations
Contained in the River and
HarbOr Bill.

Special to the Herald byt the Press Associated
WASHINGTON, February l6.-Follow.
ing is the message of the President We.
toing the bill for the distribution of
seeds in Texae:
To the House of Representatives..
II return without my approval House
bill No. 10, 203, entitled An Act to En-.
able the Commissioner of Agriculture to
Make Special Distribution Of Seeds in
the Drought.Stricken Counties in Texas.
Ii is represented that the long g-continued
and extensive drought has existed ia
certain portions of the State of Tex ls,
resulting in the failnre of crops ana con.
sequent distress and destitution. There
has been some difference in the state
ments concerning the extent Of the peo.
pies needs in the localities thus affect.
ed. There seems to be no doubt that
there has been existing a condition call.
ing for relief, and am willing to believe
that, Notwithstanding the aid already
furnished, the donation Of seed
grain to the farmers located in
this region, TO enable them to
put in new crops, would serve to avert
the continuance or the return of their
unfortunate plight. And yet feel
obliged to withhold my approval of the
plan as proposed by this bill, or to allow
the indulgency of the benevolent and
charitable sentiments through the ap.
preparation of public funds for that pur.
pose. can find no warrant for such an
appropriation in the constitution, and I
do not believe that the power and duty
of the general government ought to be
extended to the relief of individual suf-
fering which is 10 no manner properly
related to public service or benefit. The
prevalent tendency to Disregard the linn.
tied mission of this power, should, l
think, be steadfastly resisted, to
the end that the lesson should
be constantly enforced that though
the people support the government, the
government should rot support the
people. The friendliness and charity OF
our countrymen can always be relied
upon to relieve their fellow citizens in
misfortunes. This has been repe atedly
and quite lately demonstrated. Federal
aid in such cases encourages expectations
of paternal care on the part of the gov
ernment and weakens the sturdiness of
our national character, while it prevents
indulgence among our people of that
kindly sentiment and conduct which
strengthens the bonds of common broth.
erhood. It is within my personal
knowledge thatindividual aid has to some
extent already been extended to the suf.
erers mentioned in this bill. The failure
of the proposed appropriation of SIC, ,O00
additional to meet their remaining
wants, will not, of necessity, result in
their continued distress If the emergency
is fully made known to the people of
this country. 1t is here suggested that
the Commissioner of Agriculture is an.
nually directed to spend large sum of
money for the purpose Of propagation
and distribution of seeds and other
things of this description, two-thirds of
which are upon the request of Senators,
Representatives and Delegates in Con-
gress, supplied to them for distribution
among their constituents. The appro-
priation OF the current year for this pur-
pose is 800, 900, and it will prob.
ably be no loss in the appropria-
tion for the ensuing year. l
understand that large quantity of
grain is furnished for such distribution,
and is supposed that this free appor!ion-
ment among their neighbors is q privi-
lege which may be waived by cur Sena-
tors and Representatives; if sufficient of
them should request the Commissioner
of Agriculture to send their shares of
the grain thus allowed them to the suf-
fering farmers of Texas, they might be
enabled to SOW their crops. The con-
stituents for whom, in theory, this grain
is intended could well bear the depriva-
tion, and the donors would experience
the satisfaction attending deeds of char
ity.
(Sipned) GROVER CLEVELAND.